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Nikola Milenkovic: Position, transfer fee, style of play, stats & more

Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of Serbia international centre-back Nikola Milenkovic from Serie A side Fiorentina ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season.

Milenkovic becomes Forest's fifth summer arrival following the captures of Carlos Miguel, Elliot Anderson, Eric da Silva Moreira and Marko Stamenic.

Here is everything you need to know about Nottingham Forest's new signing Nikola Milenkovic.

Nottingham Forest

2024/25

Nikola Milenkovic age, nationality & background

Born on 12th October 1997, Milenkovic is currently 26-years-old.

Hailing from Serbia, Milenkovic was born in the country's capital of Belgrade.

Nikola Milenkovic transfer free and contract

Transfer fee

Nottingham Forest agreed a reported £12m fee with Fiorentina for the services of Milenkovic.

Contract and salary

Serbian Milenkovic has penned a five-year-deal up to 2029 at the City Ground. Details of Milenkovic's salary at Forest are yet to be revealed.

What to expect from Nikola Milenkovic

Height and build

26-year-old Milenkovic is a physically formidable centre-back who is 6ft 5ins in height.

Preferred foot

Nottingham Forest's newest recruit Milenkovic is naturally right-footed.

Style of play

An aggressive centre-back, Milenkovic is a big presence in both boxes - once scoring five Serie A goals for Fiorentina in the 2019/20 season.

A very physical player, Milenkovic is a defender who makes himself known to opposition forwards and puts his body on the line.

The Serbia international is not only a brutish defender, however, with Milenkovic also capable in possession having turned out at right-back and on the right side of a back three previously in his career.

Stats

Nikola Milenkovic Serie A Stats 2023/24

Metric

Total (per 90)

Serie A Percentile

Total aerial duels won

3.98

Top 2%

% of aerial duels won

79.9

Top 1%

Long passes completed

5.7

Top 19%

Switches

0.54

Top 17%

Touches in attacking penalty area

1

Top 25%

(Source: FBref.com based on comparison to positional peers in 2023/24 Serie A season).

Similar players to Nikola Milenkovic

  • Duje Caleta-Car (Lyon)
  • Daniel Vivian (Athletic Club)
  • Berat Djimsiti (Atalanta)

(Source: FBref.com based on similar statistical profiles across Top 5 Leagues in past year)

Career so far

Previous clubs

Milenkovic came through the youth academy at hometown club Partizan Belgrade, making a total of 44 appearances for the club in all competitions before being snapped up by Fiorentina for €5.1m in May 2017.

The central defender made 264 appearances in total for Fiorentina, twice reaching the Europa Conference League final in 2023 and 2024 with La Viola finishing as runners-up on both occasions.

International caps

Milenkovic has received 56 senior caps for the Serbian national team, making his international debut in a friendly against Chile on 4th June 2018.

The powerful defender has represented Serbia at three major tournaments - the 2018 World Cup, 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.

What he could bring to Nottingham Forest

The £27m sale of Moussa Niakhate to Lyon has opened up a centre-back berth at Nottingham Forest, with the seasoned Milenkovic likely to be a regular starter under the management of Nuno Espirito Santo at the City Ground in the upcoming Premier League campaign.

Milenkovic will add to a strong set of central defenders on the books at Forest including Willy Boly and Murillo, with the arrival of the Serbian giving manager Nuno the option to deploy a back three formation he utilised to great effect previously whilst in charge of Wolves.

A tall and aggressive centre-back capable of chipping in with goals, Milenkovic will be confident of making a big impact in English football.

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